Growing Together - Fall 2007

Fall 2007
Vol. 31, No. 3

Acrobat PDF version of Growing Together also available

Is your child having seizures?

Here are some unusual signs to look for:

- Apnea, or stopping breathing

- Loss of body movement or muscle spasms

- Repetitive movements in the face such as blinking, twitching, sucking or chewing

- Bicycle-type movement in the legs and arms

- Quick, jerking movements in face, tongue, arms, legs and other body parts

- Abnormal staring spells or unresponsiveness (this is often the most difficult for parents to recognize)

- Involuntary behaviors such as dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat and salivation

- Loss of consciousness

Features

Taking control

Mindy and her mother Sarah of Dayton visit Dayton Children’s regularly for treatment of Mindy’s seizures.

One of the most terrifying moments as a parent is learning that your child has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder. Sarah Stuart of Dayton was forced to face that fear in 2005 when her 13-year-old daughter Mindy began having seizures.

I had noticed her jerking her arms and rolling her eyes,” says Sarah, “but I didn’t know they were seizures. They only lasted for a couple of seconds, not minutes.” It was almost one year before Sarah realized that something needed to be done about Mindy’s change in behavior.

“Many times the parents do not even notice,” says Nadir Khan, MD, a pediatric neurologist at Dayton Children’s. Depending on the type of episode, a child’s primary care physician may detect the seizure and refer him or her to a neurologist. While visiting her physician, Sarah mentioned Mindy’s mannerisms, and, suspecting seizures, he quickly referred her to Dr. Khan.

A seizure is an abnormal electrical discharge in the brain or the brain sending out a series of wrong signals. Some visual symptoms of seizures are minimal such as lip-smacking and eye-rolling, but can be as noticeable as muscle spasms and loss of consciousness.

Seizure disorders are most commonly detected in children between ages one and 10. Dr. Khan explains that often the first step in diagnosis is a test called an electroencephalogram (EEG), which records electrical activity in the brain. Sometimes an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan is done to identify the exact location of the abnormality. This test is painless and often the patient gets to sleep through it.

When Mindy came to Dayton Children’s, Dr. Khan ordered an EEG which confirmed what her physician had suspected: She had been having seizures. “Our focus is to check physical symptoms and match those symptoms to the EEG,” says Dr. Khan. Dr. Khan is also an epileptologist, specially trained in reading and interpreting EEGs.

In fall 2006 Mindy was diagnosed with juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE), which is a common type of generalized epilepsy, explains Dr. Khan. With JAE, seizures usually begin between ages 10 and 17.

Dr. Khan started Mindy on anti-seizure medication to control her episodes. “He told her she needed plenty of sleep,” Sarah says, and advised Mindy to avoid stress. He also added that many seizures can get worse with infections, fever and interacting medications.

Today, Mindy is a normal 14-year-old, home schooled by her mother, and her seizures have been regulated for over one month. She is a talented pianist and loves drawing, which is a talent that she discovered after her seizures began.

Mindy, who is home schooled, is a
talented pianist and artist.

Children with seizure disorders participate in the same activities as others, and they need to be watched just as carefully. For example, they should always wear a helmet while riding a bicycle and be cautious while swimming.

It is important for teenagers with seizure disorders to follow up with their neurologist when they become old enough to drive. It is recommended that teens 15 years old visit their neurologist before obtaining their driver’s license to ensure that it is safe to be driving.

“In many types of seizure disorders, better than 50 percent of patients will be able to come off their medication,” Dr. Khan explains. Only a small percentage will have to resume a medication regimen after discontinuing.

With her seizures under control, Mindy visits Dr. Khan
once every three months with the hope that one day
her seizures will completely cease.

Dayton Children’s neurology department is dedicated to the treatment of infants through adolescents with various neurological disorders including seizure, movement, sleep and several others. Your child is diagnosed and treated with care by a highly trained staff of four board-certified neurologists, two nurse practitioners, care coordinators and EEG technologists. In addition a seizure class is offered each Wednesday to instruct families on how to care for their child.

“At first Mindy couldn’t understand why this was happening to her. It was very embarrassing for a teenager,” says Sarah, “Dr. Khan worked so well with her. He is really an excellent doctor.”

From the person who checks you in at the front desk to the nurse who preps you for your EEG to the physician who makes the diagnosis, everyone in the neurology department at Dayton Children’s is devoted to caring for children who need special attention. They want to help you keep your child safe and healthy.

If you suspect your child has a seizure disorder, schedule an appointment with your pediatrician or family physician. He or she may refer you to Dayton Children’s if needed.

Meet the new Dayton Children's Ambassadors

Tacarra Nelson, 14, from Dayton, has spent much of the past year at Dayton Children's because of a brain tumor. Tacarra's story.

Anthony Ravelli,17, from Dayton, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and has received treatments at Dayton Children's since he was 6. Anthony's story.

Keith Longstreath, 13, from Waynesville, was born with hemophila, an inhereted disorder that prevents the blood from clotting properly. He receives his treatments at Dayton Children's. Keith's story.

Hillary LeMelle, 17, from Springfield, injured her knee at basketball practice and thought she might have torn a ligament. She was referred to Dayton Children's, where she was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare disease where cancer cells are found in the bone or soft tissue. Hillary's story.